Smithfield (packing) worker dies (threatened with termination by his supervisor 4 illness)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.pww.org/index.php/article/articleview/11203/1/375/

Smithfield Packing livestock worker Emmanuel McKoy, 27, died June 1 in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Although the cause of his death has not been determined, McKoy struggled with Type 1 diabetes and experienced health problems from the disease.

McKoy began working in the livestock department of the notorious Smithfield Tar Heel plant in October of 2006. The plant has been cited by Human Rights Watch and the United Nations for human and labor rights violations.

He was part of the union organizing effort there despite the hostile opposition of the company and even wore his “Justice at Smithfield” T-shirt when he was photographed for his Smithfield ID badge.

McKoy was hospitalized on two occasions in the last seven months due to diabetes, and he was threatened with termination by his supervisor if he missed any additional time because of his illness. When McKoy returned to work after his January hospitalization, Smithfield put him on a job from which he could not be relieved to take his required insulin.

The Justice at Smithfield Campaign is asking that donations to help the family he leaves behind be sent to the Emanuel McKoy Memorial Fund at Interfaith Worker Justice, 1020 West Byrn Mawr Ave., 4th Fl., Chicago IL 60660.

[zabet]

1. This is sad but, not that I am defending the company ...

because I do not know all the details: I do know (my daughter works there now and I
worked building the plant and worked for the plant doing fabrication in the maint. shop up
until 1996), the employee is allowed 12 unexcused absences during a years time, any absence
can be excused by a doctor for medical reasons. There seems to be a problem as to why his
doctor would not provide this employee with proper documentation to prevent him from
being penalized for missing work. As far as not having time to take his meds...I feel sure out
of an eight hour day, with 2 twenty minute scheduled breaks and a 40 minute lunch, all paid, that
there was time to take insulin. The Livestock area at the plant has its own break room, locker rooms and rest rooms. Also, employees are allowed additional breaks and restroom time as needed, they just have to get the crew leader to fill their spot while they are gone.
If this employee had issues with his supervisor, the plant also has an open-door policy with
the plant president (my neighbor down the road).
Too much is not told in the article.
Smithfield is the main employer in this area. The work is hard but, pays good and they have excellent insurance and benefits. They have been operating over 15 years and very seldom do
you hear of any claims of mistreatment of the employees, and when you do hear something, it is
usually not what it appears to be at first.
:popcorn:

[fed-up]

2. where did you read that his doc would not provide documentation? nt

[zabet]

3. Management rumor mill at the plant.

I asked my daughter about it and that was what she said and since
she is in management I am apt to believe she knows what she is
talking about. At least that is what she said the talk was at
the Supervisors meeting when the issue of the worker was discussed.
Not definitive though, she said they were pulling his employee and
medical records at the plant and having legal go through the issues
of his absences and why, if they were for medical reasons, why
he could not get a note from his doctor to verify this. She said
it was at the point that 1 more unexcused absence would result in
his termination by plant policy - that is why he was warned by his
Supervisor about missing anymore unexcused time.

[fed-up]

5. not severe enough-McKoy was hospitalized on two occasions in the last seven months due to diabetes

[zabet]

6. I did not say his illness was not severe enough...

I simply stated employee policy. I am curious as to why his doctor would
not recommend applying for disability with the apparent severity and uncontrollability
of his diabetes. The doctor/patient relationship is not controlled by the employer.
When he was hired, he signed a paper agreeing to the attendance policy along with
the guidelines. That said, the plant also hired him while fully aware of his
condition.
Again, I re-iterate, what happened to him is terrible. I really believe, after
talking to my daughter, that the only reason this man attempted to keep his job
was for the health insurance - if he became unemployed, he would have NO insurance
and no way to seek treatment.

That said, the only time the plant gets bad press is when the Union is trying to
get in. Which I fully believe it needs to get in if for nothing more than to
increase the pay to the same level as the Virginia plant which is Unionized.

Bottom line - Health Insurance and treatment or No Health Insurance and No treatment.

[aasleka]

4. !

Family leave act is a Federal Law. If you need time for an illness you can take it without being fired.